Of course, the most critical first step in any successful surgery is the diagnosis. If this is performed accurately, the patient’s vision is much more likely to be corrected precisely and post-surgery complications can be avoided in 99% of the cases. In order to achieve an accurate diagnosis, all that a patient has to do is choose from among the best eye surgeons in town. Often, it is recommended to choose a surgeon from an academic medical center as opposed to going with an independently operating practitioner as a single mistake can have the most dire of consequences for the patient.

The Lasik surgical procedure involves cutting a flap in the outer layer of the cornea and re-shaping the tissue beneath it using laser. Over the past few years, Wavefront LASIK has dominated the conventional LASIK surgery for obvious reasons of consistency and accuracy.

How is Wavefront LASIK Surgery Different from Conventional LASIK Surgery?

In a nutshell, conventional LASIK surgery merely applies a simple correction of focusing power to the cornea whereas Wavefront LASIK surgery applies a spatially varying correction.

Custom Wavefront LASIK is tailored to the needs of each individual patient. It gives the ophthalmologist a 3-dimensional map or guide from which to perform the operation. It is considered to be more accurate as it uses light to obtain an accurate blueprint of the patient’s eye. This blueprint software then assists the ophthalmologist in the creation of an incision appropriate to the specific cornea upon which the surgeon is working. Wavefront LASIK is more dependable than traditional LASIK in that the computer used in the operation guarantees almost flawless accuracy and consistency.

Though Wavefront LASIK technology promises better results, there lies a concern in the fact that this procedure involves the removal of more corneal tissue than traditional Lasik surgery. As such, people with thin corneas cannot opt for this procedure. This can be taken as a major disadvantage. Nevertheless, this technology alone has overtaken several other eye-surgery procedures in recent years and promises continued results and popularity in the future.

Lasik eye surgery cost quotes are mostly priced out per eye and depend greatly on the exact type of procedure you are having, but to make it easier for most people we display our average cost below for both eyes together. A few price determinants might be if the doctor is using bladeless LASIK, custom wavefront LASIK, non-customized LASIK with a microkeratome and excimer lasers (which involve using a blade and no wavefront technology) and Intralase LASIK eye surgery .These are just a few examples of critical price factors when obtaining a quote. Prices again are quoted per eye so if a price sounds too good to be true it probably is, read the fine print and ask the doctor what the total would be for one or both eyes depending what you’re interested in and do some research. Lasik surgery may be a simple in and out procedure but you need not forget that your eyes are being operated on and your sight is very valuable. It would be foolish to go to a surgeon without good references and background just because his price in cheaper than the rest. DO YOUR RESEARCH!!!

Here are a few “average” cost of Lasik eye surgery quotes for 2009:

• Lasik with bladed microkeratome: $3,600 total cost for both eyes (about $1,800 each eye)
• Wavefront Lasik with laser flap: $4,600 total cost for both eyes (about $2,300 each eye)

The majority percentage of surgeons charge prices in the range of what is shown above, with some charging slightly more or less depending on location and a few other factors. General LASIK eye surgery can cost anywhere from $500/eye – $2500/eye and this depends on many of the factors stated above. This procedure has grown so much in the last few years that there are many different lasers, instruments and technologies that have now been added. The type of Lasik you receive will be determined by your surgeon and customized to your vision needs. Besides the few different variations of this surgery that determine cost there are also many other factors that go into the price.

Here is breakdown of a few important factors of price:

• Purchase and use of surgical equipment for the procedure
• All sterile equipment such as gowns, masks, gloves,  and any sterile prepackaged instruments used during the procedure by the doctor and nurses
• Medications for before and after the LASIK surgery
• Royalties to laser and instruments manufacturers’
• Anesthesia, anesthesiologist, eye drops and gauze
• Pre-op and post-op visits
• Staff fees and payments

Again this is a quick simple outpatient procedure but when searching for a doctor should be taken very seriously. Maintenance of the facility, after care for the patients, medications and availability of the doctor should all be factors to consider. This is a simple procedure if done in the proper sterile atmosphere with an experienced surgeon. Proper care and cleanliness should be maintained once the procedure is complete and individuals usually are back to normal within 24 hours. Discounts are sometimes offered for LASIK eye surgery but are generally limited to people who do not require a great deal of revision. There are often radio stations advertising $1000 discounts and if you trust those doctors then you should go for it. Most people view Lasik as not too costly for the pure fact you are correcting your vision and will not need glasses or contact lenses anymore. It is truly beneficial for many people but really do your research when deciding where and which LASIK procedure to get.